Veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqla was shot dead by Israeli troops on Wednesday as she covered a raid on Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, an AFP photographer reported.
Al Jazeera and the Palestinian health ministry confirmed the death of Ms Aqla, 51, a prominent figure in the channel's Arabic news service.
Also injured in the same attack while with Ms Aqla, was Palestinian journalist Ali Smoudi. He is in stable condition.
The Israeli army confirmed that it had conducted an operation early on Wednesday in Jenin refugee camp, a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups in the northern West Bank.
Journalists mourn over the body of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqla, who was shot dead as she covered a raid on the West Bank's Jenin refugee camp. Source: Getty / Jaafar Ashtiyeh
Al Jazeera released a statement saying Ms Aqla was killed in cold blood.
"In a blatant murder, violating international laws and norms, the Israeli occupation forces assassinated in cold blood Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Palestine," the statement said, calling on the international community to hold the Israeli occupation forces accountable for their "intentional targeting and killing" of the journalist.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has issued a statement after the shooting, placing blame for the killing of the veteran reporter on 'armed Palestinians'.
"According to the information we have gathered, it appears likely that armed Palestinians — who were firing indiscriminately at the time — were responsible for the unfortunate death of the journalist.
"Palestinians in Jenin were even filmed boasting "We hit a soldier; he’s lying on the ground”. However, no IDF soldier was injured, which increases the possibility that Palestinian terrorists were the ones who shot the journalist."
US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, recalled being interviewed by the "well respected" Ms Aqla late last year and described her death as "really horrifying."
"We have to ensure that we get to the bottom of her killing," Ms Thomas-Greenfield told reporters at the United Nations in New York. "She was doing her job."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Al Jazeera described Ms Aqla's death as a blatant, cold-blooded murder by the Israeli military, which said dozens of Palestinian gunmen had confronted troops who arrested a Hamas militant in Jenin.
Palestinian journalist Ali Smoudi, injured by Israeli shooting, speaks during an interview with Anadolu Agency. Source: Getty / Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The Israeli army has blamed some of the attacks on residents of Jenin and has stepped up operations in the area in recent weeks.
A total of 30 Palestinians and three Israeli Arabs have died during the same period, according to an AFP tally, among them perpetrators of attacks and those killed by Israeli security forces in West Bank operations.
Palestinians carry the body of Shireen Abu Aqla, an Al Jazeera journalist, in the West Bank town of Jenin, Wednesday, on 11 May, 2022. Source: AP, AAP / Majdi Mohammed/AP
It is considered a day of grieving and protest for Palestinians, and heightened tension between Palestinians and Israeli forces is anticipated in the occupied territories.
